Saying goodbye to a character is never easy, but when Sara, a.k.a. The Canary, took those arrows through the chest in the final minutes of the episode, we felt them, too.

Bye, Canary.

Image: Cate Cameron/The CW

It was shocking and unexpected and entirely devastating to watch Laurel cradle her sister's body in the alley.

Haunting, actually.

We still don't know who's behind it or why they targeted her, but The Canary is definitely dead. And we're not handling it well, in case you didn't notice.

Next week's episode is titled "Sara," which was a hint in and of itself, really. But the idea that the show would kill off a seemingly untouchable woman was too shocking for us to even consider the faint possibility that the episode would be a tribute rather than a character-driving arc.

Well, that's not exactly accurate. The episode will surely drive characters — like Laurel, Det. Lance, a surely crushed Oliver and the rest of the team — just not Sarah. Because she's dead. Sorry, it needs repeating because ... denial.

Our only comfort in this time of immense grief is that Oliver and Felicity had some major moments in the season premiere, as anticipated. Yes, their first date was interrupted by a bombing. Yes, Ray Palmer had a little too much chemistry with Felicity (to the point where we felt a little like we were betraying our Olicity roots). And yes, their first kiss was equal parts exciting and sad as the pair mutually decided to call it quits before anything really began. But it was also sweet and a lovely exploration of their complicated relationship.

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